Quick Shots: Benson’s disappointment exceeds Grossman’s

Thursday

It makes for good debate – who has disappointed the most, Bears quarterback Rex Grossman or running back Cedric Benson?

It makes for good debate – who has disappointed the most, Bears quarterback Rex Grossman or running back Cedric Benson?

Using a self-concocted formula, it’s nearly a draw. Grossman grades out at 3.29 and Benson 3.15, with 3.0 being average.

For Grossman, I assigned an A for passer ratings of 80.0 or better, a C for 50-79.9 and an E for 49.9 or worse. He’s had 14 A’s, 11 C’s and 9 F’s.

For Benson, I assigned an A for rushing average of 4.0 or better, a C for 3.0 to 3.9 and an F for 2.9 or worse. He’s had 14 A’s, 14 C’s and 11 F’s.

Amazingly similar, so far.

As for other measuring standards, Grossman has had eight games with 100.0 or better passer ratings; Benson’s had two 100-yard rushing games. Both were first-round picks, but Benson being chosen fourth and Grossman 22nd means a bit more should be expected of Benson.

The winner – or loser, if you prefer – is Benson. He has been more of a bust than Grossman, even if the distinction isn’t drastic.

It's too early to say neither will have a lengthy NFL career. Sometimes quarterbacks develop late, with Jeff Garcia, Jon Kitna and Rich Gannon among the most prominent in the past decade. Grossman, easily, appears to have a better shot at collecting NFL paychecks for a lot longer than Benson.

Yes, he will be missed

Cedric Benson, for all of his shortcomings, picked a fine time to get injured. As much as he’s struggled, he was good for carries and had been enjoying his most productive stretch recently.

Benson averaged 7.1 yards per carry over his last two games, totaling 136 yards on 19 carries. Three of the rushes were for 20-plus yards including a 43-yarder.

Adrian Peterson is averaging 3.6 yards this season with a long run of 11 yards. Garrett Wolfe is averaging 3.4 yards, but 25 of his 31 yards came on one carry.

Grossman on upswing

It took a fourth-quarter surge, plus overtime, for Rex Grossman to finish with respectable numbers last week against Denver.

Overall, since he replaced Brian Griese, Grossman has a solid 92.6 passer rating. He’s completed 48 of 84 passes (57.1 percent) for 601 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

In fourth quarters and overtime, he’s been even better. The last three weeks he’s 22 of 34 for 291 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 111.3 passer rating.

Now that’s progress.

No need for shades

While the big names in pro football have to be careful when they're out in public, Chicago's special team ace Brendon Ayanbadejo doesn't have to be super cautious everywhere he goes. He said he only gets recognized in Chicago.

The Bears wouldn't have minded if Giants defensive end Michael Strahan had decided to retire after all before this season.

Strahan, whom the Bears have to deal with Sunday, almost decided not to come back for a 15th season.

"As close as you could come," the NFL's single-season sack record-holder (22.5 in 2001) said when asked how close he came to retiring. "The beach was looking real nice. With the way the weather is getting cold, I'm thinking about what the heck did I do? I was really close.

"At the end of day, I wanted to finish up better than I finished last year. Now I'm having a lot of fun. We'll see how this year goes. Maybe I'll come back for another one."